› Ripley’s Believe It or Not honors first responders with free admission [Orlando Sentinel] As if police, firefighters and EMTs need to see more weird stuff, Ripley’s Believe It or Not is recognizing first responders with free admission. Workers in police, fire and emergency medical services will get into the oddities museum for free Sept. 7-8. In addition, up to four of their guests get 50 percent off their own admission.

› Plans to turn West Tampa cigar factory into hotel roll forward [Tampa Bay Times] The old Balbin Bros. Cigar Factory is closer to becoming a boutique hotel than it has been in years, records filed with the city show. In late 2016, a Tampa hotelier and a Louisiana-based hospitality company partnered to buy the 35,000-square-foot property at 1202 N Howard Ave in West Tampa.